What Not to Buy on Black Friday

Netbooks, e-books and other bad deals
By Emily Rauhala,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 24, 2009 11:39 AM CST
What Not to Buy on Black Friday
FILE - In this Dec. 23, 2008 file photo, two women head for the subway with their purchases after shopping in New York with one day remaining in the holiday shopping season. Americans are feeling more stress from debt these days, raising the odds they'll act like Scrooge rather than Santa during the...   (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, file)

Step away from the gizmos. Even if you make it through the Black Friday crowds unharmed, you may do serious damage to your wallet, writes Farhad Manjoo in Slate, who runs down what to buy and bypass at the big box store:

Don't Buy:

  • E-book readers: The market is heating up, but don't get burned. At $259 for the Nook and Kindle, these babies are still a risky—and expensive—choice for most. Plus, Apple's rumored iTablet could shake up the market.

  • Netbooks: Before you are seduced by their small size, check the return policy. Tiny keyboards cause big problems.
  • Expensive home theater cables: For lengths under 15 feet, cheap cables work well, so don't be seduced by big brands.
  • Cheap inkjet printers: These gadgets may sound cheap, but quickly consume many times their price in ink.
Buy:
  • Widescreen computer monitors: You can get 22-inch monitor for about $100. Now is a good time to buy.
  • External hard drives: Pick up a 1TB model for about $70, a deal you "can't afford to miss."
(More Thanksgiving stories.)

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